Reason No. 1 of 2010 for Sox fans to jump off the Tobin Bridge*

Matsuzaka: At least he pitched well during the World Baseball Classic!

As a Yankee fan, I probably shouldn’t be posting Red Sox news. But with Chris enjoying some much-deserved time off, I figured someone had to.

And this one, I’ll kind of enjoy…

As pitchers and catchers report, fragile Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka, who tired himself out in the pre-season World Baseball Classic last year, told Japanese media this week that he hasn’t been able to throw because of back tightness.

In all seriousness, it’s not clear how significant a problem this is. The Globe reports that Theo Epstein says it is not serious and that he expects Matsuzaka to have a “normal Spring Training.”

But back problems for a pitcher are like a base-stealer busting a leg. It ain’t good.

From the NESN.com report:

Matsuzaka — who made just 12 starts in 2009 due to a leg injury that may have been suffered during Japan’s victory in the World Baseball Classic, along with shoulder tiredness — avoided the practice field and instead worked out inside, after which he reportedly told various Japanese news outlets that he skipped a throwing session late last week because of the back ailment. He added that the situation hadn’t improved enough to allow him to throw during Tuesday’s workout.

*We kid, we kid. It’s just that Sox fans sometimes maybe-kinda-sorta overreact. (Not that us Yankee fans are without sin.)